'Founded on a culture of excellence': New Fort Bragg commander to oversee training of special operation forces

FORT BRAGG — A new commander will oversee the training and development of special operations soldiers at Fort Bragg.

Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson turned over command of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School to Brig. Gen. Guillaume ”Will” Beaurpere during a command change ceremony Thursday at Fort Bragg.

Beaurpere arrives from his most recent assignment as deputy commander of general operations for the Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Roberson, who led the command since August 2019, won’t travel far for his next assignment. He becomes the new deputy commander for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

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During his time as commander of the Special Warfare Center and School, Roberson produced more than 2,769 Special Forces soldiers, 1,497 psychological operation soldiers, and 1,921 Civil Affairs soldiers for the operating force, said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC’s commander who oversaw the Thursday’s command change.

The Special Warfare Center and School oversees the Special Forces assessment and selection course, training for Special Forces and special operation forces and foreign language training with more than 100 courses for civil affairs, psychological operations, Special Forces, allied and sister service students.

Under the command are the school, Special Forces Warrant Officer Institute, the Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, 2nd Special Warfare Training Group and the Special Warfare Medical Group.

Braga said that during Roberson’s three years in command he and his team trained more than 54,000 servicemembers and 187 international students.

Roberson helped modernize the Special Forces qualifications course, developed new courses, and addressed operational requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, Braga said.

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“This organization remained nimble to the needs as a nation throughout because of this command team’s leadership,” Braga said.

Roberson said the job was rewarding and the best part was being able to shape the future of Army special operation forces.

“What we teach people here in this institution is what they will replicate in combat,” Roberson said.

Roberson said the special warfare center and school get the best soldiers the nation has to offer, and that is why he and his team constantly reviewed what courses to offer them.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘What am I getting or will get out of this training? Is it worth getting rid of or should I get something new,’” he said.

The training could mean introducing a new irregular warfare course or maritime operations course, Roberson said.

It’s also meant using technology in innovative ways through developing drone or robotics courses, he said.

The school’s cadre, Roberson said, was innovative in determining which courses could be remote during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He credited USASOC’s flight detachment for coordinating getting candidates to selection and raining in the midst of the pandemic.

New commander

Roberson said the past three years have been a “great ride,” but he’s “got to get off of the ride.”

He said he is confident in Beaurpere, who he served with in Baghdad.

“(He’s) a great leader, great person, very analytical, critical thinker, common sense … I am not worried a bit,” Roberson said.

Beaurpere has previously commanded the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, was executive officer to the USASOC commanding general, and served as military assistant to the secretary of the Army.

He said the last time he and his family were at Fort Bragg was more than 22 years ago when he went through the Special Forces qualifications course.

During the past two weeks of the command’s transition, Beaurpere said, it’s evident it’s an “elite institution.”

“This is a unit founded on a culture of excellence thanks to my predecessors,” he said.

He told the soldiers he is honored to be in their ranks.

“I pledge my commitment to support our no-fail mission for the Army,” he said. “Our ARSOF regiments cannot win without the exquisite force we generate class after class. Our people are the best at their trade. Our culture is one of excellence. Our purpose is to forge the next generation of ARSOF warriors.”

Braga said Beaurpere has the right command team and closed his remarks by quoting former president John F. Kennedy, who authorized the creation of the Green Berets.

“A full spectrum of military, paramilitary, and civil action must be blended to produce success,'" Braga said quoting Kenndy. "The enemy uses economic and political warfare, propaganda and naked military aggression in an endless combination to oppose a free choice of government, and suppress the rights of the individual by terror, by subversion and by force of arms..’”

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: New commander to oversee training of Special operation forces at Bragg